Cabinet-file



4 Shets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. MUHLHAU'SER. CABINET FILE. No. 439,971. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. MUHLHAUSER.

CABINET FILE.

No. 439,971. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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J. MUHLHAUSER.

CABINET FILE.

No. 439,971. PatehtediNovQ 4. 1890.

WITNESSES:

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. MUHLHAUSER. CABINET FILE.

Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MUHLHAUSER, OF ROCHESTER, NE? YORK.

CABINET-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,971, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed November 18 1889. Serial No. 330,807. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MUHLHAUSER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oabinetdailes, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to produce a novel, compact, convenient, capacious, and shapely device of the genus named, which will receive and retain in horizontal position and assorted condition any printed matter or written manuscript in quantity within its capacity and permit ready access to the same.

The invention consists in a cabinet-file constructed with a series of folding rigid tablets, capable of a vertical swinging as well as an upwardly sliding movement on a proper frame, and in skeleton frame hinged to a tablet to serve as a rest for the support of sheet-music or other similar matter, and also as a prop for the support of one or more tablets in an upwardly-inclined position to afiord access to matter deposited between two tablets.

The invention also consists in self-adjusting stops inserted in the face of the tablets to provide an abutment for the edges of sheet matter placed on the tablets.

The invention also consists in a novel form of automatic latching-support for the tablets and the hinged strips, whereby one or more tablets, with their connected strips, may be retained at any desired point of elevation and rendered parallel at the rear edges of the hinged strips.

The invention also consists in joining or hinging the tablets to their transverse guidestrips in such a manner that the strips will be held and elevated in horizontal planes with the tablets when the latter are being singly or jointly lifted.

The invention further consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figurel is a perspective view of the device, showing one tablet in propped position and parts of the device.

one side of the frame broken away, its form being delineated in dotted lines Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the center line. Fig. 3 is a perspective elevation of the file, one wing being broken from the frame to expose construction of concealed Fig. 4 is a top view of one of the tablets and parts secured thereon. Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of the form of construction that is represented in Fig. 3, showing a novel device.

for automatically locking one or more tablets and attached strips at any point of vertical adjustment desired. Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of a tablet broken, and also portions of the frame on which it is supported by the device exhibited in Figs. 3 and 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged views, in perspective, of the improved self-adjusting register-stop, which prevents improper lateral and longitudinal movement of sheet filed on a tablet, and indicates proper position for such matter thereon. Fig. 9 is a face view of an opened hinge of peculiar construction, which in pairs are employed as jointed connections for the tablets and their transverse guide-strips. Fig. 10 is an edge view of the hinge shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a cross-section of the hinge, taken on the line 0: a; in Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a perspective View of a cabinet-file furnished with improved features shown in preceding views, which elements are in this view combined with a frame having one side elongated and provided with vertical stops against which filed matter may abut when placed in the file. Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the form of cabinet-file shown in Fig. 12; and Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the rear end of a cabinet-file provided with two adjustable locking-supports for the guide-strips and hinged tablets, which strips have spring-actuated horizontal slide-bolts affixed at their side edges in position to engage the upright locking-supports.

Referring to Fig. 1, the frame of the file consists of a base-board A, of rectangular form, mounted on short knobs a, which serve as feet. A vertical back A, of similar material, is erected from the rear edge of the baseboard, and the sides A are secured oppositely, having a connection at their edges with the base and back, which may be adjustable or fixed, as may be preferred, thus providing a complete frame whereon the other details of the file-case are located.

The tablets B are elongated slabs of suitable material, preferably hard wood of a variety that will not warp. These are rectangular in form, of the same thickness and marginal size, which latter is proportional to r the width of the frame, so that they will rest thereon and lie within its side border edges. The length of said tablets preferably is diminished in a manner which will be further explained. At the rear of the base-board A two or more vertical guide-rods b are erected, which are supported in alignment with the back board and each other by the spring-clip plates 17, that may be disengaged from the top of the rods by reason of their elasticity, for a purpose which will appear.

The rear edges of the tablets B are inclined or cut to slope rearwardly from the top to the lower surface. A series of transverse strips B, of the same thickness, are provided. These are of such proportionate length that they will when in position slide freelybetween the sides A of the cabinet-frame.

As before stated, the length of the tablets B is varied. Inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 will show that a certain number of the tablets, considered from the lower one of the series upward, are gradually increased in length in regular sequence, and that the three from the upper tablet, inclusive, downward are given a different gradation in length, so that their edges taken as a pile present a line of greater deviation from a perpendicular plane than the other tablets, the graded length of which does not increase in as rapid ratio.

The width of each guide-strip Bis made to correspond to that of the tablet it is hinged upon, so that the entire series of tablets and strips when placed in regular order will be of equal length, considered together, which length should be suchthat the front edges of the tablets will lie inside of the border of the base-board and afford a marginal edge thereon which may be projected at one side to serve as a rest for a loose tablet-prop. The hinge G (shown in detail in Figs. 9, l0, and 11) may be advantageously used to connect the strips B and tablets B and afford a stop or rule-joint to the engaged parts; but other analogous means may also be employed for the purpose.

The adjacent edges of the strips B are sloped at an incline similar to that of the tablets they are secured upon, but in an opposite direction, thus producing gaps that allow the tablets to be freely elevated and lie in a rearward inclined plane if they are fully elevated on their jointed connections.

All the'strips and tablets are of the same thickness in'this method of construction, and the entire series of strips have holes, formed Vertically through them which are adapted to engage and fit loosely the upright guiderods 12, so that any tablet may be elevated with its strip. 7

To facilitate the upward movement of the tablets and attached strips and retain the hinged tablets and strips in the same plane. -when the tablets are singly or jointly lifted,

the hinges Gr, previously mentioned, are employed. As all are alike, a description of one will suffice.

Referring to Figs. 9, 10, and 11, the hinge G will be seen to have a lug g formed on the knuckle g of the leaf 9 which when the hinge is opened fully, as shown,will impinge on a similar lug g formed on the opposite leaf, the lugs from such acontact limiting the open adjust-mcntof the hinges. Consequently the elevation of a tablet will carry its hinged guide-strips up with it in the same plane. For cabinet-files that are comparatively small and light the ordinary rule jointed or stop hinge is employed for the purpose above specified.

The great increase in width progressively afforded the upper two or three tablets pro- -vides room for greater increase of contents between their attached tablets than others in the series when elevated, succeeding tablets being elevated when the first two or three guide-strips are thrown upward.

All the guide-strips and tablets can be placed on or removed from the frame by an upward movement sufficiently forcible to spring the clip-plates b so that the strips will successively clear the ends of the guide-rods b.

At the forward ends of the tablets B lifting-plates a are secured. These, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are let into the material of the tablets, so as to produce a smooth upper surface. A depending curved finger-rest formed at the front edge of each plate and projected beyond the tablet-edge, provides convenient means for the elevation of one or more of the tablets.

Shallow indentations 0!. are produced in the plates for the engagement of the prop-stick or bar D, when such a device is employed to hold the tablets (one or more) in an inclined position to allow papers to be placed or removed from between the clamping-surfaces of the tablets.

As papers of varying width may sometimes be filed together, and it is desirable for all sheets placed between the tablets to be aligned at one side of the same and also be prevented from extending rearwardly too far, which would interfere with the action of the hinges,

, a peculiar registering-stop has been provided,

which will be described.

It may be well to explain that in the construction of the stop, which is to determine the position of sheets of music or other papers te be filed, it is necessary for its proper action that provision be made for its location in the body of the tablet, so' that adjacent tablets will fold fiat upon each other. To this end the device consists of a cast or sheet metal frame 0, having parallel vertical side walls integrally formed on a bottom plate, said walls being flanged outwardly at right angles, and

therefore parallel to the bottom plate. The height of the walls from the flanges C to the bottom is proportioned to the thickness of the tablets B, in which they are to be embedded. Between the walls of the frame 0 an elastic plate-spring C is located, one end being attached to the bottom plate near its end, as at 0 While the other is free and slightly bent upward. When in normal position, the set of the spring will elevate its center a'considerable distance above the flanges 0. Pressure applied at the point named will depress the spring till it is level with the flanges, and when it is desirable to retain the spring thus compressed, a keeper-plate C may be slid above the spring, which will secure it, as shown in Fig. 8.

To prevent the free end of the spring C from being accidentally forced upward, and also to insure its longitudinal extension under pressure, the flanges O are slit crosswise at a proper distance from the ends, so as to permit a pair of ears 0 to be turned inward above the spring-body, which will engage these projections and slide under them when there is a downward pressure applied to the apex of the spring.

As shown in the several Figs. 1 to 5, inelusive, the register-stops are embedded near the side edge and rear end of the tablets, preferably nearer the left side of the tablets, aligning with the edge, suitable elongated slots being produced in the tablet-bodies at proper points to receive the stop-frames, the thin flanges of which rest on the edges of said slots and secure a correct seating of the frames in said slots.

In Fig. 4 a double set of stops is shown, so located that small-sized sheets may be placed in two layers aside from each other, each file being caused to register its edges against the springs of the stops provided to engage the same.

Wear-plates f are let into the under side of the tablets B in position to have contact with the raised center of the springs C When there are several tablets provided with double sets of stops, as just explained, should it be desirable to hold the'center stopspring depressed, so that large sheets may be filed on the tablet, this may be effected by sliding the keeper-plate 0 above the spring.

In using the cabinet-file it is more convenient to introduce the matter on the tablets from the right side of the device. Some situ-.

be arranged to depress the sprin -stops C on the side where they are not needed, or to hold said stops 0 confined when the cabinet-file is packed for transportation.

In the use of the cabinet-file for sheet music it may be desirable to utilize the device as a stand on which the sheet in use may be supported in a suitably-inclined position to be read with ease. To facilitate such a purpose,

the form of the tablets and the guide-strips connected thereto are slightly altered propor-.

the tablets near the forward edge of the same,

the length of this frame being such proportionally that when it is placed in the position shown with its lower end resting against the ledge provided by a slight upward projection of the finger-pieces, on the lifting-plates a the frame will be inclined rearwardly at such an angle as will convert it into a suitable rest or support for sheets of music or other matter it is desired should be so sustained. The skeleton frame D is preferably used as a prop for the tablets and constitutes one of the features of this invention.

When the frame is to be folded or opened, it may be engaged by the fingers of the right hand, as shown in Fig. 3, and swung into position readily, the center depending limb D being utilized to fold the skeleton frame D rearwardly in contact with the tablet it is hinged to by pressing upon it in an obvious manner. The skeleton frame is also of service as a prop to hold one or more tablets elevated when sheets are to be filed.

The lifting-plates a can be increased in length when the frame D is used for the purpose of affording a rest of proper width on which to place the lower edges of musicsheets when these are to be read; or there may be two shorter plates substituted for a long one in an obvious manner. Any desired number of the frames D may be applied to the series of tablets in any order preferred.

As there is a certain amount of space taken up by the frames D, which intervene be tween the tablets, in order to compensate for this and allow the latter-named parts to fold flat the guide-strips B are made of increased.

thickness as compared to the tablets, and the leaves of the hinges that are secured thereto are sufficientlyembedded on the under sides of the strips to render them level with their mating leaves, which are secured to the tablets, as shown in Fig. 5. By so constructing the strips and'attaehing the hinges a suffi-.

cient space is provided between the tablets to contain the skeleton wire frames D and cause these to clamp flat upon the adjacent face of a tablet it is imposed upon.

When a mass of matter is filed between twoor more tablets and the space is thus rendered considerable between opposed tab- IIO lets, there is a drooping tendency manifested at the rear edges of the tablets and their attached guide-strips, to obviate which an automatic or self-locking support is provided, which is shown enlarged in Figs. 5 and 6. It consists, essentially, of an upright post (1, that is preferably made to revolve on the base-board (not shown) in any suitable manner. The peripheral surface of said post d at one side is cut .to form arackeof suitable width, the teeth of which are serratedand adapted to lock on their upper faces with latch-bolts e, which bolts have sliding engagement with containing-cases e that are inserted in mating holes formed in the rear edges of the guide-strips B. Each bolt ehas its forward end out to a sloping edge e from theupperside. Thelowersurfacebeingofless slope, engages the top of a tooth in the rack e, and by the action of the horizontally-expanding springs e, placed on the reduced bodies of the bolts, said bolts are outwardly projected and automatically interlock with the rack-teeth at any point of elevation of the tablets and strips B. One or more of the tablets may be so adjusted for height at their rear ends that ahorizontal position will be secured therefor by pressure on the front portions of the tablets when the bulk of filed matter raises the tablets on an incline from front to rear edges of the same. The rack-post d is suitably journaled at d on its upper end in a bracket-plate d which is secured to the back board A of the frame, the lower end being similarly journaled. A. projecting handle (1 is provided for the revoluble movement of the rack-post d, which latter is retained normally with its rack faced to the front of the file-case by a plate-spring d. The body of the post, being made oval in cross-section, is adapted to rest one flattened side against a depending flange of the bracket-plate d (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6,) and be thus retained by pressure of the spring on the opposite side.

In cabinet-files which are of more than ordinary width two of the posts 01 may be employed, and to permit this to be done there may be projecting tongues B formed on the ends of the guide-strips B, which tongues are aligned with vertical grooves A formed parallel in the walls of the frame sides A said grooves permitting a free upward movement of the tongues in them, so that a vertical adjustment of one or more guide-strips and attached tablets may be secured and retained at will by the locking engagement of the bolts 6 with the racks of the posts, it be ing understood that the guide-rods b are not used when the tongues and grooves are employed as vertical guides. A release of the bolts 0 is effected by revolving the handle d rearward in the direction indicated in Fig. 6.

In the device shown in Fig. 14 two vertical rack-cut posts 01 are employed, which are oppositely located near the side walls A A of the file-frame, these posts being engaged by the horizontally-sliding spring-actuated bolts 6, which bolts, with their containing-cases 6 are embedded in the 'side edges of the guidestrips B, preferably in notches formed therein, whereby the guide-strips and hinged tablets will be adj ustably supported on each side of the same. The tablets and guide-strips when provided with the side supports just mentioned may be rendered level by pressure on the tablets near their front edges, as previously mentioned.

From the foregoing description of this im proved cabinet-file it is evident that a single sheet of paper or any number of sheets of various thicknesses and sizes may be arranged and clamped securely in appropriate divisions of the file, and a name-plate may, if desired, be placed on the lifting-plate of each tablet to indicate contents filed below it.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a cabinet-file, the combination, with a frame having vertical guides, of rigid tablets which are connected to the guides and are adapted to fold flat upon each other, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cabinet-file, the combination, with a frame and vertical guides, of guide-strips loosely mounted on the guides, and a series of rigid tablets, which are hinged to the guidestrips, whereby from the loose connection of these strips with the guides they are adapted to slide vertically, swing upwardly, and fold fiat upon each other, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cabinet-file, the combination, with a frame open at its front and provided with vertical guides, of a series of flat rigid tablets, guide-strips hinged to the rear ends of thetablets and engaging loosely the vertical guides to slide thereon, and registering-stops embedded in the tablets, adapted to be automatically elevated by inherent force and depressed by the folding action of the tablets, substantially as set forth.

4. In a cabinet-file, the combination,with a frame having a base, a back, and two sides and open at the front, vertical guides, and means to hold the guides upright, of a series of flat rigid tablets,corresponding series of transverse guide-strips hinged to the tablets in a manner to be held and elevated in the same plane with the tablets and permit them to be swung upwardly, and a set of registeringstops for each tablet, which stops are seated in the tablets, adapted to be self-elevating above the level of the tablets and be depressed yieldingly by the folding movement of the tablets, substantially as set forth.

5. In a cabinet-file, the combination, with a frame having a base-board, a back, and two sides, open at the front, two vertical guides erected on the base-board, and means to detachably support the guides upright, of a series of rigid tablets having their widths increased by differing graduations, a series of transverse guide'strips that loosely engage the guides, are hinged to the tablets, and correspondingly mate them to produce a set of joined rectangular flat pieces, self-elevating registeringstops for each tablet, seated flush with the top faces of the tablets and adapted to have their spring portions yieldingly depressed by the folding of the tablets, and sliding keeper-plates adapted to hold the stops continuously depressed, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cabinet-file, the combination, with a frame having vertical guides and rigid tablets connected to these guides by guide-strips and thereby adapted to slidevertically, swing upwardly, and fold horizontally, of a skeleton frame adapted to hold one of the tablets in opened adjustment, whereby a sheet of thin material placed against it will be supported, substantially as set forth.

7. In a cabinet-file, the combination, with a frame having vertical guides, rigid'tablets, transverse guide-strips hinged to these tablets and loosely engaged with the vertical guides, and registering-stops embedded in the rigid tablets, of a series of skeleton frames hinged to the tablets and adapted to prop them and also support sheets of thin material placed against any skeleton frame in service, substantially as set forth.

8. In a cabinet-file, the combination, with a frame having a base-board, a back, and two sides and open at the front, vertical guides, and supports at the tops of these guides, of transverse guide-strips loosely engaging the vertical guides, a series of rigid tablets hinged to the guide-strips, and a hinged skeleton frame for each tablet, which frame is adapted to prop the tablet engaged and all above it and also support a sheet of thin material, sub stantially as set forth.

9. In a cabinet-file, the combination,with a rigid tablet supported to slide vertically and swing upwardly, of a skeleton frame hinged to the tablet near its front end and adapted to be pressed rearwardly and fold upwardly against the tablet it is secured to, substantially as set forth.

- 10. In a cabinet-file, a skeleton frame D, providedwitha limb D and hinged to the lower surface of a rigid hinged tablet B, whereby the skeleton frame may be pressed rearwardly to fold it on the tablet, substantially as set forth.

11. In a cabinet-file, a self-elevating registering-stop comprised of a metal frame having parallel. side walls that are connected at the bottom and flanged outwardly at right angles thereto, and a bowed spring attached to the frame by one end, projecting its bow above the flanges, so as to act as a yielding stop, substantially as set forth.

12. I11 a cabinet-file, a self-elevating yielding register-stop comprised of a metal frame having parallel side walls connected at the bottom to a bottom plate, each side wall flanged outwardly at right angles to its wall, a bowed plate-spring attached by one end to the bottom of the frame, bent upward at its free end, and adapted by its resilience to proj ect its bow above the flanges, and a sliding keeper-plate which can hold the spring depressed, substantially as set forth.

13. In a cabinet-file, the combination, with a tablet and a transverse guide-strip, of stophinges adapted to permit an upward movement of the tablet on the guide-strip and retain the tablet and strip from an opposite fiexure below a horizontal plane, substantially as set forth.

14. In a cabinet-file, the combination, with a frame having a base, a back, and two sides and open at the front, two vertical guide-rods erected on the base, and spring clip-plates which engage the upper ends of the guiderods detachably, of a series of transverse guide-strips that are made to slide vertically on the guide-rods and have their widths increased from the upper strip downwardly by differing graduation, a series of flat tablets that are hinged to the strips and of such differing lengths corresponding to the widths of the engaged strips that the length of all the joined pieces will be equal, a set of upwardly-projecting registering-stops embedded in the tablets, a lifting and name plate for each tablet, and a means forholdin g the tablets elevated or inclined, substantially as set forth.

15. In a cabinet-file, the combination, with a base-board, tablets, and guide-strips hinged to the tablets, of one or more spring-actuated locking-bolts suitably attached to the guidestrips, and one or more rack-cut posts adapted to engage the spring-actuated bolts or release them, substantially as set forth.

JOHN MUHLHAUSER. W itnesses:

O. SEDGWICK, EDGAR TATE. 

